Improvement in ventilating devices for hats



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SMIIH, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN VENTILATING DEVICES FOR HATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 50,285, dated October 3, 1865.

To all tch/0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SMITH, ot' Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Ventilating Device for Hats; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Myinvention consists in a frame constructed substantially as described hereinafter, so that it may be readily secured within a hat, and may be so adjusted within the same as to allow the air to pass freely between the hatand the head; and my invention further consists in certain devices, full y described hereinafter, connected tothe said frame for the purpose of retaining1 it in its position in the hat after adjustment.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specication, Figure l is a perspective view of my improved ventilating device. Fig. 2 shows the device attached to a hat. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a section on the line l 2, Fig. 2.

A is a metal frame, which consists ot' strips a a', joined at the ends and connected by ribs c c of such a length that the frarne is-widest in the middle. From the frame, at each end of the same, projects outward a pointed pin, d, and to the upper strip, a, near the center, is hung a catch, e, to which is secured a cord,f, for a purpose described hereinafter. The frame is introduced into a hat so that the center of the same will he adjacent to the central portion of the back ofthe hat.. The frame is then pressed closely against the head-band at all points, and the pointed pins d are pushed through the body of the hat.

When it is not desired to use the frame, the lower strip, a', is brought even with the brim of the hat. When, however, the head of the wearer becomes heated, and it is desired that the air should circulate above the same, the

frame is brought to the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the pointot' the catch e being pressed into the head-band so as to prevent the frame from returning to its first position when the hat is placed on the head, which is now in contact with the lower strip, a', instead of with the head-band, so that there is a space between the latter and the strip, through which the air can circulate freely.

When the hat is removed the catch e may be. withdrawn from the head-ban d by means ofthe cord j', and the frame may then be adjusted to its tirst position.

ln order to prevent the frame from swinging downward when the hat is removed from the head, an elastic strip, m, secured to a pin, n, passing through the headband, may be passed across the npperstrip, a, as shown in the drawings, the upper end of the elastic strip being caught by the pointof the pin, from which it can be removed when it is desired to detach the frame from the hat.A

It will be seen that the device is exceedingly simple, that it may be readily attached to the hat, and that it will accommodate itself to hats of any size.

Vithout confining myself to the precise construction ofthe device herein described, or to the manner of attaching the same to the hat,

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. The frame A, constructed and adapted for being secured within a hat, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with the said frame, ct' the catch e, pin n, and elastic bands m, for securingtheframeinits position,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WM. SMITH.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FosrER, W. J. lt. DELANY. 

